Jay-Z’s lawsuit tossed out: Judge dismisses extortion and defamation claims against Tony Buzbee

A Los Angeles judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Jay-Z last year, in which the rapper and mogul accused attorney Tony Buzbee of extortion and defamation tied to a decades-old rape allegation.

The decision was handed down on Monday, June 30, according to TMZ.

Jay-Z’s legal representative, Alex Spiro, expressed disappointment with the outcome:

“We are surprised and disappointed by this ruling which turns on the misapplication of California law on the admissibility of the investigators’ statements.”

Originally filed anonymously under the name “John Doe” on November 18, 2024, the suit claimed Tony Buzbee was “attempting to extort exorbitant sums” through threats involving “fabricated and malicious allegations of sexual assault.”

A month after the filing, Buzbee amended a separate complaint, naming Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs as defendants in a case involving a woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” who alleged they raped her at an afterparty in 2000 when she was 13.

Both men denied the accusation. On February 14, 2025, the case was dismissed with prejudice after the accuser admitted to making “mistakes,” and inconsistencies emerged during a media interview.

Following the judge’s ruling this week, Buzbee released a statement celebrating the outcome:

“Yet another huge win!! John Doe’s case against me and The Buzbee Law Firm alleging extortion and defamation was thrown out by the court. As I said when it was filed, the case was completely meritless.”

He also noted potential further legal steps:

“We will now seek attorneys’ fees against John Doe for bringing the legally flawed case.”

The legal battle unfolded as Buzbee was involved in a larger wave of litigation, including over 100 abuse-related cases filed against Diddy, many of which made national headlines.

Jay-Z rumored to be a top contender for 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show

The reported lawsuit dismissal comes as speculation around who will headline the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show heats up — and Jay-Z’s name is climbing to the top of the list.

According to AllHipHop, sources suggest the Roc Nation founder is a serious contender for the coveted slot. While official confirmations are still far off, the outlet pointed out the potential cultural impact of such a performance.

There has been no official word yet from the rapper, Roc Nation, or the NFL. However, given the Run This Town hitmaker's ongoing role with the league, the idea isn’t without weight.

Since 2019, his company Roc Nation has curated the Super Bowl halftime shows, including 2025’s critically acclaimed performance by Kendrick Lamar, which became the most-watched halftime show in the event’s history.

At the time of Lamar’s announcement, Jay-Z praised the artist in a statement:

“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”

Whether Jay-Z steps from behind the scenes to the spotlight remains to be seen, but fans and insiders alike are watching closely.

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